John s



J. S. BIRCH.

PENGIL OR URAYON HOLDER.

(No Model.)

Patented May 1, 1883.

WITNESSES W INVENTOR ATTORNEY u. versus. Fhmo-Ulhognpiwr. mm a. a

UNIT D STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BIRCH, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PENCIL OR CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 276,659, dated May 1,v1883.

' Application filed September 8, 1882. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN S..BIRCH, acitizen of the United States, andresiding at New York city, in the county and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improve- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional:elevation of my improved pencil or crayon holder. Fig. 2 is a similarsection of the same, with a modified form of the binding-spring thatkeeps the pencil or crayon in position. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionof Fig.1 on the linear :r, and Fig. 4. is a transverse section of Fig. 2on line y 3 s t I make the case a, of any approved size, larger than thepencil or crayon b, except at the end 0, where the point of the pencilprojects, which I make in reduced size to fit the pencil closely, but soas to allow the pencil to slide freely. In the upper part of the casethe pencil .is centered in a cap or pusher, (I, having a little socket,e, for the end of the pencil, and fitted to slide freely up and down inthe case, with a light coiled spring, f, about it to push the pencildown when required. Near the point end 0 of the case I have abindingspring, g, through which the pencil or crayon passes, and bywhich the pencil is pressed laterally to bind it, so that the spring fwill be incapable of pushing it out of place. The bindingpressure of thespring may bear the pencil againstthe case in the point 0, or against asupportingbar, h, lodged in the case near the spring, or any equivalentcontrivance may bevused. 'lhen the bar h is not used the spring may havea projection, t, on one or both sides to touch the inside of theease-when suficient pressure is brought to hear on the pencil to preventit from being overpressed by the spring. These projections also serve toprevent the bindingspring from springing through the case too far whenthe pencil is not in, and so obstruct the putting of it in. The

spring y will be roughened in the surface where the pencil passesthrough it to resist the spring fto the bestadvantage. The pencil mayalso be roughened in its surface for the same purpose. The springgconsists of a fiat strip or wire, bent in a kind of-loop, as shown, inthe middle portion, with extended end portions hearing along the insideof the case, while the loop at the middle extends across the case andthrougha notch, in, in the side opposite to where the said end portionsbear, and forming a finger bit or stud,j, projecting just enough aboveor outside of the case to be pressed inward slightly by the finger torelieve the pencil or crayon of pressure whenever it is desired to allowthe spring f to push the pencil forward and project the point; also torelieve the pencil of all pressure while the pencil is being put in thecase, which is done by sliding it in through the point 0, back.

It is to be noted that the spring 9 is located with respect to the pointof the pencil-case just where it is most convenient for the user toapply the forefinger to the push-bit withoutchanging the pencil from theposition in which it is held for use, except, perhaps, to slightlyrevolve it to bring the push stud under the finger, so that at any time,when he may want to change the point by shifting it in or out, he needsonly to put his finger on the bit j and pushing the slide (1- press thepoint on the paper, if it projects too far, to push it back, or lift thepoint slightly oh" the paper if he wishes it to be projected fartherout. s

For the purpose of extending the pencil when the point breaks off, whichis of frequent occurrence, the contrivance will be found much simpler,quicker, and more convenient than any other, and owing to the fact thatit does not hold the pencil by gripping it with sharp jaws at the pointwhere it projects from the case, as in many other holders, the points ofthe pencil will not break oft as easily or as frequently as in otherholders.

The construction is also simple, for it will It is desirable to have theparts of the spring around the hole for the pencil to incline towardsaid hole, as indicated at K, so that when the end of the pencil ispresented from either way to the hole of the spring it will be guidedthereto, and may thus be more readily passed through the spring,especially when the spring is made of a flat strip.

The flat form of spring is preferred because it affords two points ofbearing on the pencil, which insures greater friction with lesstransverse strain to the pencil than a spring with one bearing-point.

The springfmay be fastened to the side of the case at l by solder orother means, and the case may be extended above the spring for apen-holder or other device, or it may have a cap to close it.

, The binding-spring 9 may be used without the spring for pushing outthe pencil, if desired, the gravity of the pencil, or a thrust of thecase by the hand, being depended on for that purpose, as in other pencilor crayonholders; but I prefer to employ it because it actsautomatically and facilitates the operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with case a and pencil b, of a binding-spring, g,constructed substan tially as herein specified, and having a bearing onthe inside of the case a, a hole for the pencil b, and a bit, j,projecting through a 5 notch in the case, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the case a and pencil b, of a binding-spring,g, substantially as herein specified, and a bearing support or stop forlimiting the pressure of the spring on the I pencil, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the case a and the pencil b, of abinding-spring for the pencil secured in the case, without beingfastened to it, by resting at the ends on the interior of the case, andby a portion of said spring projecting through a slot or notch of thecase, and forming a finger-bit for relaxing the pressure of said springon the pencil, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the case a and pencil b, of the binding-spring,bent across the case, substantially as specified, perforated for thepencil, and having two separate and distinct points of contact with thepencil, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the case a and pencil b, of a binding-spring,,0, having a bit,j, projecting through the case, and also having a stop,6, arranged with relation to the pencil and the case, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination ofaspring,f, and pusher d with the case a, pencil b,and a binding spring, g, constructed substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. BIRCH.

Witnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, S. H. MORGAN.

